Charles Russell Speechlys LLP

Commercial; Intellectual Property

Partner, Head of Commercial, TMT and IP, Middle East

Mark is a Partner with 30 years of experience as a high level strategic commercial lawyer. Mark’s main areas of expertise are Media and Entertainment, Intellectual Property and Technology.

Mark has experience at some of the world’s leading professional firms and in 2003 he founded The Rights Lawyers where he was the Managing Partner. Having been based in Dubai since 1999, Mark is regarded as one of the leading IP, Media and Technology lawyers in the region and is recommended in Chambers and Legal 500 directories on a yearly basis. Mark acts for a variety of high end retail franchising groups, leading local telecommunications firms, financial service sector clients, sports bodies, entertainment and media companies, celebrities and artists, production and events companies as well as technology and app providers.

Having decided at the age of 12 that he wanted to be a media lawyer, he is as passionate now about what he does as ever.  Having spent his early career doing a mix of IP and media related work, he then worked for a rock band for a few years (which he describes as “a lot of fun” although he says “yes, there are things I can’t talk about…”).  His focus has been on projects with a MENA context since the late 1990s.

Mark has received many awards from industry and legal publications, including being the first recipient of the Digital Studio Service to the Industry award for his contributions to the production, broadcast and film industries in the region.  His involvement on the City of Life movie was rewarded with the Group Achievement Award from the Corporate Counsel Middle East Awards, having been judged as having raised the bar for the legal sector – his team’s innovative approach to client needs and the provision of commercial advice was viewed as having gone beyond the ordinary service provided by a law firm.

Mark stands on the Board of various companies from the sectors in which he operates including key industry organizations such as the Middle East International Live Events Association (“ILEA”) and as Board advisor to the UAE’s Production Forum. He is also regularly featured as a speaker at industry events, seminars and conferences throughout the region.

English

Middle East International Live Events Association & UAE's Production Forum